Apparatus for controlling railway switches



May 9, 1933. H, I ,BONE 1,908,504

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING RAILWAY SWITCHES Original Filed Jan. 2, 1951 if b Patented May 9, 1933 *iras HERBERT' L. BONE, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH '& SIG-NAL COLWIPANY, OF SVISSVALE, ?ENNSYLVANA, A. CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING RAILWAY SWITCHES Original -application led January 2,1931, Serial No.

506,061,`now Patent No. 1,895,067, dated January 24,

1933. Divided and this application lcd April 23, 1932. Serial No. 607,157.

Myinvention relates to apparatus for controlling railway switches, and particularly to apparatus of this type which is operated by fluid pressure. Y

The present application is a division of my copending application, Serialr No. 506,061,

filed J an. 2, 1931, Patent 1,895,067 Jan. 24,

1933, for Apparatus for controlling railway switches. A

I willdescribe two forms of Vapparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel lfeaturesV thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a View, partly diagrammatic, and partly in s ide elevation, showing a railway switch operated by a fluid pressure motor controlled by one form of switch valve embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the switch valve illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a modified form of the switch valve, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and also embodying my invention.

i Similar reference characters refer to simi-V lar parts inV each of the several views.

Referring rst to Fig. 1, the reference characters 1 and 1a designate the rails of a stretch of railway track vwhich is provided with a switch F of the usual and well-known form. This switch is operated between normal and reverse positions by a motor M whichin the form shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a cylinder 4 containing a reciprocable piston 5. ',Attached to the piston 5 is a plunger 6 which is operatively connected with the movable points of the switch F through suitable mechanism which is indicated in the drawing by the dotted line`7. Fluid under pressure, usually compressed air, is `at times supplied to one end or the other of the cylinder 4 from a suitable source not shown in the drawing, gand the supply of such luid pressure is controlled by a switch valve K embodying my invention, the construction and operation of which I will describe presently. For clearness, the valve K is shown in Fig. 1 as` being disposed upon its side at a right angle to its preferred operating position and embodies in its construction anormal magnet N and a reverse magnet R which, when ener'- gized, selectively permit fluid under pressure to enter one end of the cylinder 4 to move-the switch F to itsnormal positionl or vto enter the'other end of the cylinder 4to move the switch to its reverse position, respectively. The magnets N and any suitable manner, `onef'orm ofy apparatus for controlling these 4magnets being described and claimed in my copending application, SerialNo. 506,061, of which the present application is a division. l Referring now to Fig. 2 in which one form ofthe valve device K is illustrated in detail, hereshowmthe valve/device K comprises a casting 38 formed with a centrally located fluid pressure supply chamber 39 whichcommunicates through a'. pipe 40 with a suitable source of fluid underpressure, andthrough openings 411-11b in its opposite walls, with a pair of valve chambers 4221-42?. A pair of outlet vchambers 43f-43b communicate with the valve chambers l22a-42", respectively, through passageways 44a-r4", and' also with the switchoperating cylinder 4atv leach" end thereof through pipes L15a-45h.. Com:l munication between .theY pressure suppl chamber 39 and the valve chambers 4'21- 42b and consequently with the outlet chambers 433-432 respectively, is controlled by inlet valves 46a-46b vwhich are Vprovided ,with ribbed stems47a-47bslidably mounted inthe openings 411-41b 'and whichare biasedrt'oward closed positions by a coiledspring 48 interposed between the valves 46a-46? with-V in thc supplychamber 39. Y 'I' A pair of fluid ,pressure cylinders,49er-49b are arranged in axial alignment with each other adjacent eachend of the .device K, the outer ends oinwhich are, closed by cylinder heads 50a-50?. Pistons 5121-51b are mounted "for reciproca-tion within the cylinders 19a-49h, respectively, and are provided with plungers 32a-52h having portions TTL-'7,79 which eX- tend inwardly vthroughthe valve chambers 421-42 for engagement with rounded outer ends of the valve stems 471-47b of the inlet` valves 46a-tt. Y Communication between thev inner ends of the cylinders 19a-,49h and the valve chambers 4211-42b is prevented by rela-V R may be controlled in plungers 521-52)A for reciprocation within the valve chambers between the cylinders 49@-49b and the outlet passageways 44a-44". A fluid pressure cylinder 54 is formed in the casting 38 between the outlet chambers 4BR-43h, with its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel to the axis of the cylinders 4921-49 and is provided with openings 5ml-55b in its end walls which extend to the outlet chambers 499-431. Communication is, at times, established between the outlet chambers 43-431 and the outer atmosphere, through exhaust ports 56a-56b which communicate with the openings 551-55". A. piston 57 is mounted for reciprocationwithin the cylinder 54 and carries a rod 58 which extends in opposite directions through the openings 55a-55b and into the outlet chambers 4321-48b and carries, at its outer ends, outlet valve members 59u-59b which control communication between the outlet 'chambers 43m-43b and the exhaust ports 56-56b. Passageways 6th-60b establish communication between opposite ends of the fluid pressure cylinderV 54 and the pressure side of the cylinders 49E-49b but communication between the cylinder 54 and the exhaust port-s 5ta-56b is prevented by relatively small pistons 61a- 61 carried by the rod 58 for reciprocation within the openings 55a-55b between the cylinder 54 and the exhaust ports 5Ga-56l.

The pistons 5lf-51b are forced inwardly to open the inlet valves 46a-46", respectively, against the action of the spring 48 by fluid pressure admitted into the cylinders 494-49b through passageways (32a-62h which extend inwardlyY and communicate with vertically extending passageways 6321-63? The passageways 631-63b communicate at their lower ends with thepressure supply chamber 39 through passageways (54@1-64b and at their` upper ends with the outer atmosphere through exhaust ports 6521-65). Valve stems (36u-66h extend vertically through the pas sageways (33-631 and are provided at their lower ends with normally closed lower valves (STL-671 which control communication between the passageways (34a-64b and the vertical passageways GBa-GS". The valve stems Stia-661 are also provided at their upper ends with normally open upper valves 6821-68b which control communication between the vertical passageways 634-63? and the exhaust ports @5a-65". The valves (STR-67h are urged toward a closed position and the valves 681-68b are biased towardan open position by lsprings 7 8a-78b. The valve stems 661-66bare operated by the normal and reverse magnets N and R respectively which are suitably mounted on the top of the casting 38.

With the parts in the positions shown in the drawing, the piston 5 has been shifted to the right in order to move the switch F to its normal position, and the normal and reverse magnets N and R are both deenergized, thereby permitting the lower valves (Wa-67" to close and the upper valve 681-68b to open. This interrupts communication between the pressure supply chamber 39 and both of the cylinders 49L-49b but establishes communication between these cylinders and the outer atmosphere, thus permittingthe s ring 48 to close the inlet valves Mia-46h angl to yieldably hold the valve operating pistons 51-51b in their outer positions. Also, it will be noted that, with the switch F in its normal position, the piston 57 occupies `a position to the right of the center so as to close the voutlet valve 59a and open the outlet valve 591.

l will now assume that it is desired to move the switch F to its reverse position. To do this, the reverse magnet R is energized. This closes the upper valve 68D, which interrupts communication between the cylinder 49b and the outer atmosphere,` and opens the lower valve 67h, which establishes communication between the .pressure supply chamber 39 and the cylinder 49b through the passageways 62h, 68D and 64b. Fluid pressure, thus `admitted to the'cylinder 49h, forc'es the piston 51b to the left, as viewedy in the drawing, and opens the inlet val've46b against the" action or the spring 48, thereby establishing communication between the supply chamber 39 and the right-hand end of the switch operating cylinder 4f During these operations fluid under pressure in the cylinderV 49b has beenl admitted to the right-hand portion ofthe cylinder 54 and shifts the piston 57 to the left, thereby closing theoutlet valve 59b and opening the outlet valve 59a. This establishes communication jbetween the left-hand por-v tionI of the switch operating cylinder 4and the outer atmosphere through the pipe45a, outlet chamber 43a, opening 55a, and 'exhaust ort 56a. The pistonr5 is thus forced to the ieft and moves the switch F to its reverse position. When the reverse movement of the switch is completed the reverse magnet R is automatically deenergized in any' suitable manner forming no part of my present invention, and therefore not shown in the drawing, so that the lower valve 67? becomes closed and the Vupper valve "68b becomes opened. Communication is then interrupted between the pressure supply chamber and the cylinders 49b and 54, and both of these cylinders are'vented to atmosphere through the exhaust port 65D. The spring 48 is thus permitted to return the inlet valve 4h to its'normally closed position, thereby interrupting communication between the pressure supply chamberA 39 and the switch operating cyl'- inder4.V 'Y

it willbe noted, however, that the outlet valve 59h' remains in the closed position to which it was-moved and is held in such position by the iluid'under pressurewhichV is trapped' in the switch operating cylinder' 4 and the outlet chamber`43".v Also, it will be ico noted. that the fluid under pressure thus trapped in the cylinder 4 positively tends to maintain the switch in the position towhich it was last moved and that any leakage of fluid pressure by the inlet valve 46b will be into the pressure side of the cylinder 4. This tends to replace the iiuid under pressure that may leak from the cylinder 4. Moreover, in the present device iiuid under pressure is cut off from the switch operating cylinder 4 except when the switch is being moved between its normal and reverse positions. This results in a material saving of air.

The operation of the device in moving the switch F back to its normal position is the saine as that above described but in a reverse order and will be understood without further description.

In Fig. 3, I have shown another embodiment of my invention in which I- employ lever mechanism instead of fluidV pressure means foroperating the outlet valves '5W-591% In this particular construction, the valve chambers 491-421 and the inner ends of the cylinders 491-49b open into lever chambers 691---69b interposed therebetween and through which the inlet valve operating plungers 5%*52 extend. Also, in this form of the device, the rod 58 is slidably mounted in guideways Oa--TO'b formed in the lower portion ofl the casting and extends through the lower portions of the lever chambers 69E-69h, through the openings 58a-58b and into the outlet chambers 4321-431. Communication between the outlet chambers 431--43'b and the outer atmosphere is vobtained through the openings 58%1-58b and through the exhaust ports 56--56b which in this case communicate with the lower portions of the lever chambers 691-69".

The rod 58 is shifted longitudinally in order to open and close the outlet valves SQL-59" by depending levers *Ila-71h which are pivotally mounted at their upper ends in the upper-end ofthe chambers 69a-69b, as at Y72a-72", and which are pivotally connectedintermediate of their ends with the pliuigers 52a-52b, as at 73--73".l The lower ends of the leverslW-lb are adapted to engage collars Ma-74h carried by the rod 58 so that when thepistons :31a-5Ib are forced inwardly by fluid pressure their motion will be-transmittedto and cause acorresponding movement of the rod 58 and the outlet valves 591l-59b' carried thereby. The rod 58 is yieldably maintained in the position to which it is moved by a suitable toggle device 75 which is disposed within a chamber 76 located between the guideways 701-70b and beneath the pressure supply chamber 39. It will be-notedfrom an inspectionof Fig. 3, that the levers Ila-71' function to shift the position ofthe outlet valves 59a-59b only when the pistons 51-51bare forced inwardly and that ywhen the pistons are returned to their normal positions Linder the action of the spring 48, the lower ends of the levers fla-'471yb move out of engagement with the collars Ma-'Z41D without transmitting any motion to the rod 58, which is maintained by the toggle device 7 5 in the position to which it waslast moved.

The operation of the device above described is substantially'the same as that described in connection with the structure disclosedin F ig. 2, and a brief description is therefore deemed sufficient. With the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 3, if it is desired to move the switch F to its reverse position, the reverse magnet R is energized as before. This opens the valve 67h and thus admits fluid under pressure into the cylinder 49yb which forces the piston lb inwardly thereby opening the inlet valve 46". rlhe inward movement of the piston 51D swings the lever 7lb about its pivot 72b in a clockwise direction which in turn shifts the rod 58 longitudinally to the left through its engagement with the collar 74". 59b and opens outlet valve 59a, thereby vent` ing the left-hand portion of the switch operating cylinder 4 to atmosphere. The opening of the inlet valve 46h admits fluid under pressure from the supplyv chamber 39 into the valve chamber 42", thence through the passageway 44b into the outlet chamber 43D, and thence through the pipe 45bv into the right-hand end of the switch operating cylinder 4, thereby forcing the piston 5 to the left and moving the switch to its reverse position. The operation of the device for a movement ofthe switch to its normal position is identically ,the same as that above described. but in a reverse order.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided an apparatus that is relatively simple in operation and construction This closes the outlet valve t and by means of which the loss of iuid under pressure through leakage isv reduced to a Y minimum.

Although I have herein shown and described only` two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that va-` rious changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended; claims without departing from the spirit and scope of` my invention. I i I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim is: i l i l. In combination with a railwayv track switch, a fluid pressure device comprising af cylinder, a piston in saidcylinder for moving said switch between normal and reverse positions, a fluid pressure supply chamber, a first outlet chamber communicatingwith said cylinder on one side of said piston, and also with the outer atmosphere, a second outlet chamber communicating with said cylinder Von the other side of said piston, and also with the outer atmosphere, a first inlet valve for controllingcommunication between said supply chamber and said first outlet chamber, a second inlet valve arranged in axial alignment with said first inlet valv-e for controlling connnunication between said supply chamber and said second `outlet chamber, a spring interposed between said inlet valves for biasing said inlet valves toward closed positions, a first valve operating cylinder, a first valve operating piston in said rst valve operating cylinder foriopening said first inlet valve against the action of said spring, a second valve operating cylinder arranged in axial alignment with said first valve operating cylinder, a second valve operating piston in said second valve operating cylinder for opening said second inlet valve against the action of said spring, a first central valvel for selectively establishing communication between said first valve operating cylinder and said supply chamber and between said iirst valve operating cylinder and the outer atmosphere, a second control valve for selectively establishing communication between said second valve operating cylinder and said supply chamber and between said second valve operating chamber and the outer atmosphere, a rod mounted for reciprocation on an aXis spaced from and parallel to the axis of said valve operating pistons, a first outlet valve on one end of said rod for controlling communication between said first outlet chamber and the outer atmosphere, a second outlet valve on the other end of said rod `for controlling communication between said second outlet chamber and theiouter atmosphere, and `means operable when said first valve operatingV piston is operated to open said first inlet valve for sliding said rod in'one 'direction to simultaneously close said first outlet valve and open said second outlet valve and when said second'vaive operating piston is operated to open said second inlet valve for sliding said rod in an opposite direction to simultane-- ously close said second outletvalve and open said first outlet valve. Y

2. A fiuid pressure control device comprisingY a fluid pressure supply chamber, a first outlet chamber communicating with the outer atmosphere and with said Vsupply Ycharnber, a second outlet chamber communicating with outeratmosphere and with said supply chamber, a first inlet valve for controlling communication between saidsupply chamber and said first outletV chamber, a second inlet valve for controlling communication between said supply chamber and said second outlet chamber,` a first valve operating cylinder, aV first valve operating piston in said first valve operatingl cylinder for opening said first inlet valve, a second valve operating cylinder arranged in aXial alignment with said first valve operating cylinder, a second valve operating piston in said second valvey operating cylinder for openingV said second inlet valve, a first control valve for.

selectively establishing vcommunication between said first valve operating cylinder and said supply chamber and between said first valve operatingycylinder and the outer atmosphere, a second control valve for selectively establishing communicationv between said second valve operating cylinder'and said supply chamber and between said second valve operating cylinder and the outer atmosphere, a third valve operating cylinder disposed in laterally spaced relation to said first and second valve operating cylinders and communicating at one end with said first valve operating cylinder and at the other end thereof with said second valve operating cylinder, a third piston in said third valve operating cylinder, a rod carried by said third piston andfextending through opposite ends of said third cylinder, a first outlet valve on one end of said rod for controlling communication between said first outlet chamber and the outer atmosphere and a second outlet valve on the other end of said rod for controllingcommunication between said second outlet chamber and the outer atmosphere.

3. A fluid pressure control device comprising-.a fiuid pressure supply chamber, a first outlet chamber, communicating with the outer atmosphere, and with said supply chamber, a second outlet chamber communicating with outer atmosphere and with said supply chamber, a first inletvalve for .controlling communication between said supply chamber and saidfirst outlet chamber, la second inlet valve for controlling communication between said supply chamber-and said second outlet chamber, a first valve` operating cylinder, a first valve operating piston in said first valve operating cylinder for openingsaid first inlet valve, a second valve operating cylinder arranged in axial alignment with said first valve operating cylinder, a second valve operating piston in said second valve operating cylinder for opening said second inlet valve, a first control valve for selectively establishing communication between said rst valve operating cylinder and said supply chamber and betweensaid first valveloperating cylinder and the outer atmosphere, a second control valve for selectively establishing communication between said second second outlet valve on thel other end of saidrod for controlling communication between said second outlet chamber and theouter atmosphere, first lever mechanism operable by los said first piston for moving said rod in one direction to close said first outlet valve and open said second outlet valve, a second lever mechanism operable by said second piston for moving said rod in an opposite direction to close said second outlet valve and open said first outlet valve, and means for selectively controlling communication between said supply chamber and said cylinders and between said cylinders and the outer atmosphere.

4. In combination with a fluid pressure motor containing a reciprocable piston, a fluid pressure control device comprising a fluid pressure supply chamber, a first inlet valve for controlling communication between said supply chamber and one end of said fluid pressure motor, a second inlet valve for controlling communication between said supply chamber and the other end of said motor, means for biasing said inlet valves toward closed positions, a first valve operating cylinder, afirst valve operating piston in said first valve operating cylinder operatively connected with said first inlet valve for opening said first inlet valve, a second valve operating cylinder, a second valve operating piston in said second valve operating cylinder operatively connected with said second inlet valve for opening said second inlet valve, a first outlet valve for controlling communication between said one end of said fluid pressure motor and atmosphere, a second outlet valve for controlling communication between said other end of said fluid pressure motor and atmosphere, means for selectively establishing communication between said supply chamber and said first valve operating cylinder and between said first valve operating cylinder and atmosphere, other means for selectively establishing communication between said supply chamber and said second valve operating cylinder and between said second valve operating cylinder and atmosphere, and means eective when said first valve operating piston is operated to open said first inlet valve for simultaneously closing said first outlet valve and opening said second outlet valve and when said second valve operating piston is operated to open said second inlet valve for simultaneously closing said second outlet valve and opening said first outlet valve.

5. In combination with a fluid pressure motor containing a reciprocable piston, a fiuid pressure control device comprising a fluid pressure supply chamber, a first inlet valve for controlling communication between said supply chamber and one end of said Huid pressure motor, a second inlet valve for controlling communication between said supply chamber and the other end of said motor, means for biasing said inlet valves toward closed positions, a first valve operating cylinder, a first valve operating piston in said first valve operating cylinder operatively connected with said first inlet valve for opening said first inlet valve, a second valve operating cylinder, a second valve operating piston in said second valve operating cylinder operatively connected with said second inlet valve for opening said second inlet valve, a first outlet valve for controlling communication between said one end of said fluid pressure motor and atmosphere, a second outlet valve for controlling communication between said other end of said fluid pressure motor and atmosphere, twoelectropneumaticvalves, means controlled by one of saidelectropneumatic valves for selectively establishing communication between said supply chamber and said first valve operating cylinder and between said first valve operating cylinder and atmosphere, means controlled by the other electropneumatic valve for selectively establishing communication between said supply chamber and said second valve operating cylinder and between said second valve operating cylinder and atmosphere, and means effective when said first valve operating piston is operated to open said rst inlet valve for simultaneously closing said first outlet valve and opening said second outlet valve and when said second valve operating piston is operated to open said second inlet valve for simultaneously closing said second outlet valve and opening said first outlet valve.

In testimony whereof I afHX my signature.

HERBERT L. BONE. 

